Honda is set to launch its first pair of battery-electric models committed to North America, the Prologue and Acura ZDX. But those two crossovers are just bridge models built through GM in its Ultium architecture. Honda’s first truly internally evolved BEVs for this market may not arrive until around 2026. This week at CES 2024 in Las Vegas, we saw the unveiling of two radical concepts that point the way to the new Honda 0 Series, with a new logo.
Dubbed the Saloon and the Space-Hub, the concepts look something like how the Accord and Odyssey might appear if created in the 22nd century. The sedan and van-like machines are both sleek, one-box designs that almost seem like they might slice through the air with no drag.
The sedan starts with an oblong opening framed by three thin LED light strips and a revised backlit H marking. This new logo will be used exclusively on the 0 Series BEVs. The overall appearance of the sedan is reminiscent of old black handheld vacuum cleaners.
The Space-Hub takes some of the same themes and applies them to a larger, truck-like vehicle. The second- and third-row seats wrap around the cabin and are all turned inward, in a way reminiscent of the Canoo’s life-vehicle shape.
“The mobility we dream of is not an extension of the ‘thick, heavy, but smart’ electric vehicle trend,” said Toshihiro Mibe, Honda’s global managing director. “We will create an entirely new price from the bottom up, with finesse, lightness and wisdom as the foundation of our new Honda 0 EV series to further take the joy and freedom of mobility to the next point. “
Honda 0 Series Space-Hub Concept at CES 2024
That comment from Mibe almost seems as if these new designs are a direct reaction to the Prologue and ZDX which like their GM-branded relatives are indeed thick and heavy. This might also be why Honda and GM decided to abandon plans to jointly develop a new line of lower-cost, smaller EVs. Honda perhaps felt as though they couldn’t get what they wanted from the partnership.
Honda 0 Series Logo
The Series 0 logo will be used for a variety of global electric models, with the first production sets destined for North America starting in 2026. The key themes of the 0 Series are a slim, smooth and smart construction based on Honda’s long-standing philosophy: the maximum man/machine minimum. Of course, this means that there will be a slim electric platform and the cars, of course, will be software-defined.
Honda 0 Series Space-Hub Concept at CES 2024
For starters, the 0 Series will feature a partially automated, hands-free, hands-off, hands-off driving formula based on the Honda Sensing Elite formula that debuted in Japan in 2021 in a limited-edition Legend sedan. Later in the decade, Honda plans to continue creating those automation formulas that will be available in more affordable electric vehicles. More complex formulas will extend hands-free features in more environments than just roads, allowing it to be used on certain city streets.
Like most automakers are trying to do right now, Honda is developing its own software platform for the 0 Series, meant to be more customized. Of course, it will incorporate artificial intelligence features that will be based on the habits of the driver and the vehicle. and other real-time data to help make recommendations for user experience. It remains to be seen to what extent this is actually the experience with all of these systems, but as EVs become more generic, each logo looks for a way. to stand out.
The Honda 0 Series sedan concept at CES 2024
Honda has focused on the power of its cars and the 0 Series is no different. The diversity will use an electric axle configuration where the motor, gearbox, and inverter are incorporated into the axle. Honda also works to maximize battery power density to minimize length and weight while offering intelligent diversity. No actual details have been revealed, but Honda has a battery production joint venture with LG Energy Systems with a factory under construction in Ohio.
Honda is also looking to achieve battery longevity with a degradation target of less than 10% in ten years. For older 0 Series models coming out in late 2020, Honda’s goal is to offer a rate of between 15 and 80% within 10 to 15 minutes.
So far, Honda hasn’t been a leader in EV development, with more emphasis on hybrids and fuel cells, but judging by those two concepts, they may finally be taking this market seriously.